Western Isles Health Board spent more than £1.6 million keeping patients in hospital last year despite them being fit to go home.
Figures published by the Information Services Division Scotland reveal more than half a million lost bed days throughout Scotland in 2018, with 7,054 lost bed days the Western Isles is proportionately one of the highest contributors.
Labour candidate Alison MacCorquodale said the failure to end delayed discharges from hospitals is due to an underfunding of social care. She added: ‘Cashstrapped health boards like here in the Western Isles are spending millions keeping people in hospital when they don’t need to be there. ‘This is largely down to the crisis in social care, which in the Western Isles includes the difficulty in attracting staff.